State Regulations and Pharmacy Practice

State Law

• State departments of professional regulation or state boards license prescribers and dispensers.
• State boards of pharmacy administer state regulations for pharmacy practice.
• Stricter state regulations take precedence over federal ones.
• Compliance means doing what is required.
• Protocol is a specific guideline for practice.
• Some states permit pharmacists to prescribe under specific conditions.
• Many states allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe with limited scope of authority.
• Non-physician prescribers must adhere to a strict protocol that determines the prescription.
• Non-physician prescribers include dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
• Pharmacists are responsible for technician's performance and must ensure their compliance with all relevant regulations: federal, state, and local.